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Phone hacking: Prime minister reveals inquiry powers Phone hacking: Prime minister reveals inquiry powers
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The judge leading the phone hacking inquiry will have powers to call media proprietors, editors and politicians to give evidence, the prime minister said. The judge leading the phone hacking inquiry will have powers to call media proprietors, editors and politicians to give evidence under oath, the PM said.
Lord Justice Leveson has been appointed to oversee the inquiry into the News of the World scandal and media regulation. Lord Justice Leveson will oversee the public inquiry into the News of the World scandal and media regulation.
David Cameron said those who sanctioned wrongdoing should have no further role in running a media company in the UK.David Cameron said those who sanctioned wrongdoing should have no further role in running a media company in the UK.
And he told MPs parent company News Corp should stop thinking about taking over BSkyB and sort out the mess.And he told MPs parent company News Corp should stop thinking about taking over BSkyB and sort out the mess.
In a statement to the Commons, he said the inquiry would begin as "quickly as possible" and would be in two parts - an investigation of wrongdoing in the press and the police and a review of regulation in the press.In a statement to the Commons, he said the inquiry would begin as "quickly as possible" and would be in two parts - an investigation of wrongdoing in the press and the police and a review of regulation in the press.
He said Lord Justice Leveson, assisted by a panel of senior independent figures, would be able to summon witnesses to give evidence under oath and in public. He said Lord Justice Leveson, assisted by a panel of senior independent figures, would make recommendations for a better way of regulating the press which "supports their freedom, plurality and independence from government but which also demands the highest ethical and professional standards".
His role would be to make recommendations for a better way of regulating the press which "supports their freedom, plurality and independence from government but which also demands the highest ethical and professional standards", Mr Cameron said.
He will also make recommendations about the future conduct of relations between politicians and the press.He will also make recommendations about the future conduct of relations between politicians and the press.
It comes as the UK's main political parties are set to unite to urge News Corp's Rupert Murdoch to drop his bid to buy the satellite broadcaster. Mr Cameron told MPs he will require all ministers and civil servants to record meetings with senior editors and media executives to help make the UK government "one of the most open in the world".
The Labour motion could raise pressure on Mr Murdoch but is not binding. Labour leader Ed Miliband welcomed the proposal, arguing it must be imposed retrospectively, so that he and Mr Cameron publish all details of meetings with media executives dating back to the last general election.
At prime minister's questions, Mr Cameron said a "firestorm" was engulfing parts of the media and police, and those who had committed offences must be prosecuted. Mr Cameron was previously criticised for meeting Rupert Murdoch, head of News Corporation, in Downing Street soon after the election, because Mr Murdoch did not walk through the front door.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said it was an insult to the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was allegedly hacked, that Rebekah Brooks was still News International's chief executive. Newspapers which did not support the government ran stories of "secret meetings".
Later, the Commons will debate Labour's motion - backed by the Conservatives, the Lib Dems and smaller parties, calling on Mr Murdoch to drop his bid to buy the satellite broadcaster, BSkyB.
Downing Street said the prime minister would not attend, and would vote - if it came to one - "providing his diary allows".
The motion could raise pressure on Mr Murdoch but is not legally binding.
Earlier at prime minister's questions, Mr Cameron said a "firestorm" was engulfing parts of the media and police, and those who had committed offences must be prosecuted.
Mr Miliband said it was an insult to the family of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was allegedly hacked, that Rebekah Brooks was still News International's chief executive.
Mr Cameron responded: "She was right to resign, that resignation should have been accepted. There needs to be root and branch change at this entire organisation.Mr Cameron responded: "She was right to resign, that resignation should have been accepted. There needs to be root and branch change at this entire organisation.
"What has happened at this company is disgraceful - it's got to be addressed at every level.""What has happened at this company is disgraceful - it's got to be addressed at every level."
A Commons debate is to follow, which Downing Street said the prime minister will not be attending. His spokesman said Mr Cameron would vote - if it came to one - "providing his diary allows". On Tuesday, Mr Cameron met Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband at Downing Street to discuss the hacking scandal.
The support for the motion comes after Mr Cameron met Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband at Downing Street to discuss the hacking scandal on Tuesday.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson is believed to have updated the three men on the current state of the police inquiry into hacking claims when he visited Number 10.Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson is believed to have updated the three men on the current state of the police inquiry into hacking claims when he visited Number 10.
Among the signatories of the motion are the SNP, Plaid Cymru and the Green party.
In other developments:In other developments:
Following fresh revelations about alleged malpractice at News International - News Corp's UK newspaper arm - Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt referred the company's bid to acquire the 61% of shares it does not already own in BSkyB to the Competition Commission.Following fresh revelations about alleged malpractice at News International - News Corp's UK newspaper arm - Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt referred the company's bid to acquire the 61% of shares it does not already own in BSkyB to the Competition Commission.
But MPs want News Corp to pre-empt the regulator's inquiry - and Mr Hunt's final decision on whether to approve the deal - by agreeing to withdraw the bid.But MPs want News Corp to pre-empt the regulator's inquiry - and Mr Hunt's final decision on whether to approve the deal - by agreeing to withdraw the bid.
Vendetta
Shadow culture secretary Ivan Lewis said although any vote would not have an effect on the regulatory process, the support of all MPs would ramp up the pressure on Mr Murdoch to reconsider his position.
He rejected suggestions Labour was pursuing a vendetta against News International, which switched its support from Labour to the Tories before the last election.
Meanwhile, Labour's communications chief Tom Baldwin is facing renewed questions over claims he handled private information which was gained illegally during his years at the Times newspaper, another News International publication.Meanwhile, Labour's communications chief Tom Baldwin is facing renewed questions over claims he handled private information which was gained illegally during his years at the Times newspaper, another News International publication.
The former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft makes the allegations in a blog posting on ConservativeHome, which he owns. Mr Baldwin has not responded to the claims.The former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft makes the allegations in a blog posting on ConservativeHome, which he owns. Mr Baldwin has not responded to the claims.
On Tuesday, former senior police officers told MPs the original inquiry into phone hacking did not get the attention it deserved because other duties would have been neglected, and News International failed to co-operate with them.On Tuesday, former senior police officers told MPs the original inquiry into phone hacking did not get the attention it deserved because other duties would have been neglected, and News International failed to co-operate with them.
Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said it was now time for News International to explain themselves - as the police had done, and hand over any evidence of corruption among police officers.Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo), said it was now time for News International to explain themselves - as the police had done, and hand over any evidence of corruption among police officers.
"Let's not play around with legal games here - if they have names, dates, times, places, payments to officers, we would like to see them so that we can lock these officers up and throw away the key," he said."Let's not play around with legal games here - if they have names, dates, times, places, payments to officers, we would like to see them so that we can lock these officers up and throw away the key," he said.